Sharks confident, despite Game 1 loss

Sharks confident, despite Game 1 loss ST. LOUIS — The Sharks find themselves trailing in a series for the first time this postseason following Sunday’s 2-1 Western Conference finals-opening loss against the St. Louis Blues. “We’re confident in our group,” head coach Peter DeBoer said Monday. Again, this might take seven games. There’s going to be a lot of heavy lifting between now and the end. In other words, buckle up for a back-and-forth, possibly seven-game battle to decide which of these Western Conference heavyweights will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Sharks will try to even the series in Game 2 on Tuesday night in St. Louis before the series shifts to San Jose for Games 3 and 4. The Sharks won the first two games in each of the first two rounds, but ended up being sternly tested by the Predators in the second round. Nashville won in overtime on home ice in Games 4 and 6, but the Sharks responded with home wins in Games 5 and 7. The Sharks didn’t get the result they wanted Sunday, but thought they played well enough to win the game. The loss offered positives, including a dominant second-period effort. [...] the Blues have a 1-0 lead in the series but weren’t pleased with how they played. [...] something we got to clean up and create more chances and get down in their own end and try to wear them out that way. Monday’s off day included rest, meeting to review video of Game 1 and fixing whatever they find was wrong. Nate Latsch is a freelance writer.